BOSTON SPA NEWS Volunteers in have published a leaflet WEST GEOLOGY TRUST explaining the geology of the Boston Spa area, now available in local libraries. It tells you about NEWSLETTER 14 the Permian yellow limestones (called dolos- tones) which form the cliffs in the Wharfe gorge. SPRING 2013 The group is continuing to research the Hampole Beds, which are an important geological bounda- CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE ry within the Permian Cadeby Formation. Thin The Trust has been involved in a three-year project, the Watershed Landscape layers of clays within the dolostones show that project, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. This is centred on the South Pennine the level of the salty Zechstein Sea was dropping, moors of Lancashire and Yorkshire. The Trust has been able to add geological in- so exposing the surrounding shorelines. The clay terpretation, such as geological trails, information panels and leaflets, to seven sites. beds have been identified in a quarry at Thorp A group of archaeological enthusiasts has been studying mining and quarrying re- Arch and new sites are being found in the mains on the Pennine moors and a booklet containing their survey findings, called area. These have to be carefully ‘Riches of the Earth’ will be available in mid-March. measured and sampled so that the rocks can be There is a geology resources section on the website which will contain plenty of in- compared. formation on the seven geological sites and it has a link to a 20-minute podcast about the geology of the Marsden Moor area. The website is at Yorkshire Rocks and Minerals Day http://www.watershedlandscape.co.uk/resources/geology-and-archaeology- resources/geology-resources/ 175th Anniversary of the Yorkshire Geological Society Alison Tymon Saturday 27 April 2013 10.00 - 5.00 National Coal Mining Museum, NEW GEOLOGICAL TRAILS Two new geological trails can be found in . All day - Geological exhibits and poster displays from geological companies, The trail over Penistone Hill is explained in an illustrated booklet now available from Visitor Centres in and local societies and mining groups Sales of geological leaflets . Four stone carvings showing geological 10. 30 to 1.30 Morning session - short talks by experts on fossils, landslides, features are already in place on Penistone Hill. industrial history, oil exploration, fossils and 3D geology. The geological trail over Moor will have six in- 10.30 and 12.00 Short geology walks on the Museum site. terpretation panels, with information about the rocks, land- 11.00 Underground Tour of Caphouse Colliery scape and the mining and quarrying industries which were To be booked ON THE DAY at the NCM Reception Desk so important on the Moor during the 19th century. It should The tourist tour, which includes a geological display, geared for children. be completed during the spring. 1.00 to 5.00 Afternoon session - 35 - 45 min. lectures on the main industries in the North of , such as coal resources, metal mining, potash, Cleve- CONTACT DETAILS land ironstone, aggregates and quarrying. Geological Records Office, The event is open free of charge to all members of the public. Thewlis Lane www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk Crosland Hill, 01484 608004 http://www.ncm.org.uk/what's-on/2012/12/03/yorkshire-rocks-and-minerals- [email protected] day HD4 7FL www.wyorksgeologytrust.org FORTHCOMING EVENTS Rocks and Fossils of Roundhay Park, Rocks and Fossils of Roundhay Park, Leeds Saturday 9th March 1.30 – 4.00 Leeds Geological Association/Friends of Roundhay Park Saturday 11th May 1.30 – 4.00 Leeds Geological Association/Friends of Roundhay Park Meet Bill Fraser outside the Mansion House Visitors Centre, LS8 2JL, (SE 330 383) in Meet Bill Fraser outside the Mansion House Visitors Centre, LS8 2JL, (SE 330 Roundhay Park. A guided walk of approximately 2.5 miles around a marked 383) in Roundhay Park. A guided walk of approximately 2.5 miles around a Geological Trail taking about 3 hours, with stops for discussion. Features seen are marked Geological Trail taking about 3 hours, with stops for discussion. shales and several different types of sandstone (some of which contain fossils), as well Features seen are shales and several different types of sandstone (some of which as sedimentary and tectonic structures. contain fossils), as well as sedimentary and tectonic structures. Footpaths are graded for easy walking but can be muddy in wet weather. Footpaths are graded for easy walking but can be muddy in wet weather.

Upton Country Park, near South Elmsall, Wakefield Rocks and Landscapes of Penistone Hill, Haworth Sunday 17th March 1.00 – 3.00 Wakefield Council Wednesday 22nd May 1.30 – 4.00 Countryside Volunteers Meet Alison Tymon at the car park at the side of the Library, Upton (SE 483 137) WF9 Meet William Varley at the Haworth Brontë Parsonage Car Park (SE 029 373) for 1FE a 2½ mile circular walk following the new Penistone Hill Geology Trail. A booklet A short walk of about 1 mile around Upton to find out the story of the amazing rocks laid is available in the Haworth Visitor Centre at £2.00. Footpaths are fairly level, but down in tropical seas and deltas during Carboniferous times, which make up the land- uneven in places. You will see disused quarries with sandstones, mudstones and scape and gave Upton the coal on which its mining heritage was founded. Bring a mag- a coal seam, as well as find out more about the quarrying history of Penistone Hill. nifying glass, so that you can look closely at some of the rocks we will see. If the weather is good, views across the Upper Worth Valley and the Pennine Moors will be excellent. Rocks and Fossils of Country Park, South Elmsall, Wakefield Saturday 20th April 2.30 – 4.30 Wakefield Council Geology and Quarrying on Moor A short walk of less than a mile to see the landscaped Frickley Colliery site, now the Wednesday 29th May 10.30 Bradford Countryside Volunteers country park. Find out about the rocks and fossils found in the mine shafts, as well as Meet William Varley at the Cow and Calf Car Park, Ilkley (SE 131 468) for a 5 mile other rocks and landscapes in the South Elmsall area. See the new rocks and landscapes circular walk to the top of the moor looking at the geology and quarrying remains. interpretation panel. Bring any interesting rocks or fossils that you have found, to be Bring a packed lunch and wear suitable footwear and windproof clothing. identified by experts. Meet Tony Felski at the Doncaster Road car park WF9 2JU (Grid Reference SE 477 100) on the B6422 about half a mile south of South Elmsall railway A group of keen people station. Footpaths are graded for easy walking. looking at the brightly-col- oured sands and clays at Rocks and Fossils of Todmorden Moor, Upton Country Park. Saturday 4th May at 1.00 – 4.00 Calderdale Council These rocks represent a Meet Alison Tymon for a walk of about 2 miles following the new Todmorden Moor Geo- major break in geological logical Trail along roads, tracks and paths, to see old coal mines and quarries, with a time of about 60 million chance of finding coal balls and other fossils. Park on the road near Sourhall Cottages, years when Britain was Sourhall Road, Todmorden (SD 917 247) Todmorden Moor is high and exposed so part of a desert land-mass bring waterproofs, wear good shoes or boots and warm clothing, if needed. Bring a with mountains, sand- magnifying glass to see the fossils clearly. dunes and salty seas.